Gathering – Ground, Center, Power

The sockets being made of silver, we learn that redemption; is the foundation of the house of God. From the rings being of gold, and the boards and bars being covered with gold, we learn that those who form the house of God are clothed in divine righteousness — gold, as we have seen, being a symbol of divine righteousness — and in this same righteousness they are bound together. We learn from Romans 3:22 that “the righteousness of God” is upon all them that believe. Thus clad, and thus bound together, believers form a dwelling place for God according to His own heart. He would have His people use diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace (Eph. 4:3 JND). There should be on the part of Christians the practical demonstration of what really exists by the Spirit. This maintaining of the unity is entrusted of God to their keeping; but alas! what failure is ever found where man is put in responsibility. Instead of one house, fitly framed together, being represented, God’s people are divided into many companies, independent of one another and differing in doctrines and in ways. God has given one center around which He would have His people gathered; that center is Christ. None of the various doctrines, forms of government and other things which bring so many of God’s dear people together, form the ground of gathering according to His Word. “Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7). Redemption is the ground; Christ is the center; the Spirit of God is the power that gathers. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
As we have seen, the silver sockets on which the boards stood, show that believers stand on the ground of redemption; and the binding together of the boards with bars covered with gold, show that God would in divine righteousness hold His people together. The ark, surrounded by the boards and placed in the innermost chamber, might well speak to the hearts of God’s people of the One about whom He would have them gathered.
Notice, we are not told, Where two or three meet, or, Where two or three gather; it is “are gathered.” The Spirit of God is the power that gathers to that one center — Christ. If the boards were taken down and placed in bundles here and there, what has become of the house? Is it not in ruins? And is not that the state of Christendom today — a mass of confusion rather than the manifestation of saints builded together by the Spirit for a habitation of God? Alas! that it should be so. Men have made for themselves centers, and the result is, not one company but many companies. The work of the Good Shepherd was to gather into one His loved flock. The work of the enemy is to scatter; and how well he has succeeded in this evil work, the state of Christendom today testifies. God grant that those who belong to Christ may get their eyes so fixed on Him, God’s center, that they will accept no other name to which to be gathered.